Eleotboplathtg apparatus



Q 1,521,5 E. BELK amacmormwmq APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1923 Q. 72 ma /07; v BM/ a Patented Jan. e, 1925.

UNITED STAT es PATENT oFFIcE.

WILLIAM 1+. BELKE, or cmcAeo, mnmors.

ELECTROPLA'BING APPARATUS.

. Application filed October 29, 1923. Serial No, 671,820.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BELKE,

to be plated are supported in the solutionor electrolyte, and whereby the articles are immersed in the solution and then lifted out after they are fully plated.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved work support for the electroplating apparatus, of such character that the 'work is more conveniently and satisfactorily supported thereon, and of such character that the amount of metal deposited on the support, instead of on the Work itself, will be reduced practically to a minimum, thereby to minimize waste of the plating metal during the operation of plating the various articles immersed in the solution.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and the desirability of an electroplating apparatus. w ork support of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an electroplating apparatus having a work support embodying the principles of an;

invention. O

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of said work support, showing certain portions thereof in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 33 in Figure 2.

Figure 4' is a side elevation of another form of the prong. for said support. Figure 5 shows astill different form of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a difi'erent form of the invention.

- Figure 7 shows a diiferent form of the invention.

Figure 8 is' an enlargedhorizontal section on' line. 8 8. in Figure 2. As thus illustrated, the tank 1 may be of any suitable known or approved construction, and the metal plate 2 from which -'-the metal is to be taken through the solution to the work may be supported by a hook 3 upon the electric conductor 4, inany suitable or desired manner. The solution or'electro'lyte 5 is of any suitable'character.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support for the work to which the invention relates, comprises a metal, preferably copper, hook '6 adapted to rest on the support 7 which is the other electric conductor The body of the support proper com prises a'steel member 7 extending downwardly from the hook 6, and is securely connected thereto by a screw connection 8 of any suitable character, with a rubber or fibre gasket orwasher-l) between them, as shown. The downward extending rodlikemember 7 is provided with laterally extendin branches or projections 10, and

the rod and the projections 10 are covered by a substantial coating. 11 of vitreous I enamel, like the enamel on bathtubs and similar plumbing fixtures. The outer ends of the projections 10 are topped to receive the screw threaded portions 12 of the'different prongs shown in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive, which prongs are preferably of brass or metal suitable for this purpose, and rubber washers 13 are inserted to cover the steel endsof the projections 10, whereby no steel is exposed to-theaction of the saunas or electrolyte. As shown in Figure 2, the prongs 14: extend upward, to support difierent kinds of work, but, they may be of diiferent shapes, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. The different prongs are interchangeable, it will be seen, with each other, on one and the same body support,

so that diiferent kinds of work can be supported on the same structure.

The vitreous enamel 11 prevents the deposit of any metal from the plate2 on the support for the work, except where the inclusive, but it also serves as a protective coating for the main support itself. As stated, vitreous enamel, of the kind ordinarily employed on iron bathtubs and other plumbing fixtures, can be employed for this purpose, but it is obvious that other kinds of enamel or coating can be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Thus the washers 13 cover the exposed ends of the project-ions 10, thereby to prevent the electndlyte from contacting with any portion 'of the metal of the body member composed of the upright and the lateral projections 10, which body member is insulated and protected everywhere except at the ends of the projection's 10 where the prongs 14, or the prongs shown in Figures 4 to 7, are electrically joined to the body member. The

coating '11, of course, is notonly an insulation but is also a protective covering to resist attack by'the electrolyte. As stated, this coating is preferably of a vitreous nature, such as that made by using silica, and may be the ordinary white enamel coating of-the. kind previously described, but of whatever material the coating is made, and regardless of justhow it may be applied, it is essentiallya protective coating as well as an insulation against the electric current. Moreover, as shown and described, this coating is preferably of a permanent nature, and is a part of. the body member, being applied thereto in the manufacture of the body member, becoming practically a permanent part of and an outer surface for the body member, which latter may be of any suitable metal, but is preferably of steel if the hard vitreous white enamel described is to be employed for this purpose.

I supporting structure, the surfaces of the work adjacent the supporting structure do not plate as well, inasmuch as the large exposed surfaces of the body member absorb the electric current and the result has been, with ordinary plating apparatus, that. the

outer surfaces of the work plate better, and some times it has been necessary to turn the worktwo .or three times or more in the.

.will adhere in thedesifed manner.

process of plating the desired metal thereon.

-However, with the invention shown and described, the plating action is uniform, or more nearly so, on the outer and inner surfaces of the work, as the work itself forms the greater amount of metallic surface left exposed to receive thecurrent and receive the metal to be plated thereon, and there is only a minimum of exposed metal surface on the supporting SllIllOtllI'Q'OI' rack on whichthe work is immersed in the electrolyte.-

It will be understood, of course, that the supporting member can be made of steel, cast iron or any metal to which the enamel erably a ferrous metal is employed for this purpose, inasmuch as the vitreous enamel can be made to adhere thereto, in the well Pref.

known manner, and in such case the body 7 member is preferably an 1ron castin of the form shown, or of any suitable orm or design, depending upon the work to be done.

What I claim as my invention is-- I 1. In an electroplating apparatus, the combination of a metal member ,to hey immersed in the solution omelect-rolyte, a vitreous coating on said metal member, forming an insulation and protective covering therefor, uninsulated inetalmeans carried by and mounted in electrical connection with said member, adapted to support the work to be plated in said electrolyte or solution, so that-the electric current for plating purposes will pass through-the electrolyte to the work supported dn said uninsulated means, and through the metal of said memher, and electroconductive supporting means for said member.

52. A structure as specified.- in claimv 1',

said member being made of ferrous meta-l,

said coating being white silica enamel.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said insulated work supporting means comprising one or more removable prongs, whereby different prongs can be used interchangeably on one andthe same member.

4. A structure as specified in'claim 1, said insulated supporting means comprising one or more metal elements for directly engaging and supporting they work to be.

plated, with screw threaded means to connect said element or elements in place on' said member, whereby different elements can be used interchangeably on said member.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said member comprising an upright portion with lateral projections thereon, and said unina sulated means comprising metal prongs extending from the outer ends of said pro- .jections, whereby each prong formsan extension of its allotted projection. v 6. A structure as specified in claim 1,

said membercomprising an upright portion and lateral projecting portions extending therefrom, and said uninsulated means comprising metal prongs removably mounted onthe outer ends of said projecting portions,

whereby different prongs can be used interclr'angeably on one and the same member, and on the saidprojections thereof.

7. A structure as specified inclaim 1. said supporting means'comprising a metal element detachably connected to the upper end of said member.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said member having exposed metallic portions which are not covered by said coat: ing, and said uninsulated means comprising metal prongs applied to said exposed metal portions, with washers of suitable insulating materlal to cover said exposed metal portions, so that when immersed no portion of the metal of said body is (BX- passing through the electrolyte must enter I 10. A'structure as specified in claim 9, said coating having a hard smooth surface adapted; to resist attack by the solution or electrolyte.

11. A structure as specified in claim 9, said body member comprising an upright portion provided with lateral projections thereon, with the ends of said projections exposed, and said uninsulated metal engaging means being applied to said exposed ends of said 'projections..to'gether with means to protect said exposed metal at the ends, thereby to prevent the electrolyte from contacting with any portion of the metal of said body member.

12.'A structure as specified in claim 9,- and uninsulated means comprising one or more movable metal prongs, whereby different prongs are adapted to be used interchangeably on one and the same body membe WILLIAM E. BELKE.- 

